أَنّي سَمِعتُ خَليلي

أَنّي سَمِعتُ خَليلي

نَحوَ الرُصافَةِ رَنَّه

نَحوَ الرُصافَةِ رَنَّه

I heard, my friend,

I heard my beloved

a wail from the direction of al-Rusafa.

Singing as he went towards Ar-Rusafah

خَرَجتُ أَسحَبُ ذَيلي

خَرَجتُ أَسحَبُ ذَيلي

أَقولُ ما شَأنُهُنَّه

أَقولُ ما شَأنُهُنَّه

I went out, dragging my robe's hem,

I went out dragging my skirt

saying, 'What is the matter with them?'

Saying, what is wrong with him

إِذا بَناتُ هِشامٍ

إِذا بَناتُ هِشامٍ

يَندُبنَ والِدَهُنَّه

يَندُبنَ والِدَهُنَّه

Behold, the daughters of Hisham

When Hisham's daughters

are lamenting their father,

Were mourning their father

يَندُبنَ شَيخاً كَبيراً

يَندُبنَ شَيخاً كَبيراً

قَد كانَ يَعضُدُهُنَّه

قَد كانَ يَعضُدُهُنَّه

lamenting an old man, advanced in years,

Mourning an old man

who had supported them.

Who used to support them

يَقُلنَ وَيلاً وَعَولاً

يَقُلنَ وَيلاً وَعَولاً

وَالوَيلُ حَلَّ بِهِنَّه

وَالوَيلُ حَلَّ بِهِنَّه

They cry, 'Woe and lamentation!'

They were crying, "Woe and alas!"

And woe has befallen them.

And woe has befallen them

أَنا المُخَنَّثُ حَقّاً

أَنا المُخَنَّثُ حَقّاً

إِن لَم أُنِيِّكُهُنَّه

إِن لَم أُنِيِّكُهُنَّه

I am truly an effeminate man

I am truly effeminate

if I do not fuck them.

If I don't console them